Moo Cards are the Most
By leelefever on March 25, 2007 - 12:45am.
I introduced myself to a friendly woman with a British accent at the CommunityNext conference in Palo Alto and learned that she was from a company call “Moo†that makes mini business cards. She quickly produced a white box of cards and since that time, I have fallen in love with Moo and their little cards. Here’s why.
Moo is a good idea
Business cards are so popular and useful, but often so cookie-cutter lame. I can't get over how many people hand me a card and then apologize for making it at home the day before.
Moo has created a demand for a new kind of card that is about 1/3 the size of a normal card and offers the possibility that cards can relate more than data. Moo cards can start conversation.
Size isn’t the only difference. Moo has a relationship with Flickr, the photo sharing service and you can choose to put your very own photos on the back of your Moo cards. You can have 100 completely unique cards for about $20. Here are the backs of a handful Sachi's Moo cards. She used 40 different photos:
Moo is good technology
Moo service with Flickr is elegant and usable. It’s also a great example of an API in action. If you’re not familiar with an API, it means that web site (A) let’s web site (B) use it’s functionality. In this case, Flickr has made it possible for me, a Flickr member, to see my Flickr photos from my sets and tags on the Moo web site. This enables me to select my photos from Flickr using the Moo interface. It works like this...
You go through the photos and select the ones you want to use. You can choose up to 100.
Then You select the placement of the photo for the cards. You can do vertical or horizontal orientation.
Then you add details for the other side. This can include the photo's info (date taken, name, etc.) and free text fields.
Moo is fun and personal
Like Flickr, Feedburner and others like them, Moo communicates in a personal, funny and engaging way.
When you finish the order process you see:
And when the cards arrive you see a card tucked into the package that says:
It doesn't cost anything to communicate like a person.
Moo is a quality product.
Sachi just got her cards today and mine are on the way soon. We’re both excited about being able to hand out the cards with photos on the back that represent a story. That’s what cards should do – create conversation or tell a story. Moo does that. Go get some.
Moo Cards are the Most
It's great that you and Sachi have such a compelling story to tell, and so many great photos to tell it. I think I could probably have 100 pictures of me at my desk, me in conference rooms, me in the usability lab....
Great breakdown of Moo. I love that the business model is structured around portable personal media, and without contrivance or a feeling of being done "because you can." It actually makes perfect sense, unlike some other Web 2.0 businesses. A natural fit.
Moo Cards are the Most
Great post about Moo.
I too recently got to see Moo cards up close and have ordered my own which should arrive later this week...can't wait!
With all the different photos used, how did you find the print quality? Did you notice any pixelation or other problems?
Moo Cards are the Most
Ryan,
We are lucky to have a bunch of photos from last year, but if I didn't, I might consider it a fun photo project. I was surprised by how making a photo fit in the little card-sized box can make it more interesting.
John,
If you get really close, there is a tiny bit of graininess, but I'm happy with it. It's not photo quality, but it does what I would expect.
Moo Cards are the Most
I just pulled the trigger and ordered some after reading this post. These will come in handy if and when I get up the nerve to photograph strangers. I think handing out Moo cards to would-be subjects should help to break the ice.
Moo Cards are the Most
Great idea Carrick. It makes me think about travel and how I wish we had Moo cards for our trip (we did have business style cards that worked nicely). In that case, I would have made cards with pictures of us and things people could associate with us (Seattle, our web site, dog, etc.)
Moo Cards are the Most
Great post. It made me think about how the web experience (lots of little, distinctive, everywhere / all the time, experiences) is being extended offline, and so I wrote more about it in The web experience extended to business cards.
moo cards not just flickr
also have tie ins with HABBO, Second Life, BEBO and photolog or upload your own images or use Moo's images :)
I've just ordered mine and I
I've just ordered mine and I can't wait!
I actually enjoyed the cropping as it meant I was able to be a lot more creative with my photos.
Nice post by the way
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